A Quinte West man has been handed a 12 month conditional sentence in a collision that caused the death of a 14-year-old girl nearly two years ago.
Following submissions, Dean Potter pled guilty on Wednesday to failing to remain at the scene of a collision where a death ensued before Justice Howard Chisvin in Belleville Court.
The fatal crash happened in the 2nd Dug Hill Road and Appledene Drive area near Trenton Christian School on November 17, 2023, leading to the death of Seryn Lazzaro.
Following submissions, Justice Chisvin sentenced Mr. Potter to a conditional sentence of 12 months imprisonment, which considered a custodial sentence at law.
He will be on house arrest for the first nine months of that, with certain exceptions (work, medical appointments, church and once weekly for four hours to get necessities of life).
For the last three months, he must abide by a curfew.
He was given a three year driving prohibition and required to submit a sample to the DNA databank.
Justice Chisvin also imposed a victim fine surcharge, which by law would be $200.
Several victim impact statements were read by Lazzaro’s loved ones in court, expressing everyone’s grief and hardship at this tragic loss.
On the defence’s side, character references were provided on behalf of Potter, touching on his community involvement and lack of previous criminal record.
In the weeks and months that followed Lazzaro’s death, family members and advocates urged Quinte West Council to put greater safeguards in place to prevent future deaths in that area.
In February of last year, council agreed to direct staff to commence the design work for a concrete sidewalk extension on the west side of 2nd Dug Hill Rd., along with street lighting and an active transportation pathway at a cost of $200,000.
(BROCK ORMOND)
